Your body automatically woke up early the next morning. You gazed at the clock and saw that you slept two minutes after your alarm clock would usually go off. Not today, though. You were fired and therefore had no need to be up at this ungodly hour. You rolled over onto your side and decided sleep was a beautiful idea.

When you did wake up for the day, it was a little before ten in the morning. You ate breakfast, took a shower, and cleaned the apartment. You were finished by twelve fifteen. You found yourself sitting in the living room, desperately trying to ignore your thoughts and worries.

“I’ll just go work on my story,” you mumbled as you rose from out of your seat and into your bedroom.

You quickly signed onto your laptop and brought up the story you’d been working on. You didn’t realize how long you spent writing until you received a phone call around four.

“Hello?”

“[Name], it’s your mother.”

“Hi,” you replied a bit skeptically.

“How about you come over?”

“Right now?”

“Yes right now. Your father and I want to talk to you.”

“Mom, if this is about Shuichi-”

“Just come,” she ordered before hanging up the phone.

You stared at the phone as if it held the answers you were looking for. Why had she been so rude? Was she back to being mad at you? Did Shuichi’s fix only last a night? Whatever the real answer was, you decided not to make her wait.

Once you arrived, you made it up the all too familiar stairs and walked right into the house. You heard laughter coming from the living room. Curious, you made your way over and gasped loudly at the scene before you.

Shuichi was sitting in a chair while your parents sat in the couch. Shuichi was dressed in a pale gray shirt and jeans. His enticing emerald eyes locked gazes with your eyes before a warm smile reached his lips.

“[Name],” he greeted you as he rose out of his seat and made his way over to your side. “You seem surprised to see me.”

He was mocking you and you knew it. The way his eyes twinkled with amusement, the way his smile tilted slightly up on the right side to create a crooked smile like a smirk, the way he held out his hand for you to take.

“I should be surprised,” you stated as you furrowed your brows together, ignoring his offering hand. “What’s going on?”

“Shuichi dropped by,” your mother responded. “We’ve been talking for about an hour.”

“And you’re calling me over now? Why? What’s the point?”

It was clear you were upset and Shuichi reached out to you. You dodged as you set a glare at him. “What are you doing? Visiting my parents without me knowing? Making a fool of me behind my back? Just who do you think you are?”

“[Name]-”

You turned and left the living room before Shuichi could speak another word. You walked out to the backyard and slammed the door shut. You weren’t sure why you were so hurt, but it unsettled you that he was having private conversations with your parents as if he knew them.

You heard the back door open and close. Moments later, Shuichi was standing beside you, his gaze directly on your form.

“What do you want,” you muttered out, refusing to stare into his beautiful eyes.

“I want you.”

“Don’t give me that bullshit.”

“It’s not and you know that. I wouldn’t go through the trouble of convincing your parents how deeply I care for you if I truly didn’t want to be with you.”

“Just what the hell are you doing here,” you asked as you turned to stare at him.

His eyes held a look of hurt brought on by the question. Why did you doubt him?

“I’m here for us,” he told you gently, hand reaching out to grasp your own. This time you didn’t pull away. “I want your parents to understand where I’m coming from.”

“And what of your parents? Have you told them about us?”

“Of course I did.”

He answered so quickly and surely that you felt surprised. You thought, for some odd reason, that he hadn’t even mentioned you to his parents… yet he did.

“And?”

“And they trust in my decision,” he responded softly. “Will you?”

“Shuichi I,” you started but turned your gaze elsewhere.

“Please look at me,” he pleaded.

You felt a blush spread across your cheeks as you did what he asked. He smiled.

“Thank you. You have beautiful eyes.”
You gently hit him. “Stop it. You’re embarrassing me.”

He chuckled as he pulled you to him, wrapping his arms securely around your form. You embraced him and the feeling he caused to swell in your heart. You felt him press a kiss to your head as you tucked your head beneath his chin.

“I don’t know why you put up with me,” you mumbled into his neck.

“I could say the same to you.”

“What do you mean,” you asked astonished. He had no reason to question why you were with him; he was too amazing for words.

“We all have our flaws and insecurities,” he stated simply. “You just seem to make me obsess about them.”

You pulled away slightly to stare at him. The confession caught you off guard. Was he really that insecure when he was with you? You would have never guessed.

“Shuichi,” you began softly; you raised a hand to gently cup his cheek. “There are reasons why I’m with you. And the funny thing is that most of them I can’t express into words. The fact that you’re you is all I need to stay.”

He smiled as his arms around you tightened. “You don’t know how happy you make me.”

You laughed lightly. “I think I have an idea,” you said as you leaned up to kiss him. You pulled away and nibbled on your lower lip. “Sorry I was upset earlier. I really shouldn’t have been.”

“It’s alright. I came out of the blue; I can understand why you’re upset.”

“So… how has everything been going?”

“As expected, I’ve managed to charm your parents.”

You laughed boisterously at that. Shuichi was cocky in an odd way. It was adorable and funny.

“I’m glad.”

“We should probably head back inside. You’re parents are spying on us.”

“What,” you shrieked as you turned around to see both your parents gazing out the window. “Mom! Dad!”

Your mother was quick to disperse while your father waved with a goofy smile on his face. You buried your face in Shuichi’s chest. They were unbearable sometimes!

“Come on, let’s go inside,” he suggested; you nodded.

The two of you walked back into your parents’ house. Hand in hand, you made it to the living room before sitting down on the loveseat while your parents occupied the couch.

“I assume everything is alright,” your mother spoke.

“Yes Mom. I was just surprised.”

She nodded her head in understanding but wore a silly smile. Your father still had his goofy smile on.

“What is so funny,” you asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Nothing. Why would you ask that?”

“You two look like smiling idiots.”

“Can’t we be happy for our daughter,” your father inquired.

“Depends.”

“[Name]!”

Shuichi chuckled at the interaction. He was lucky to be able to convince your parents so easily.

“It’s just,” your mother began in a serious tone. “We haven’t seen you smile like that since… you know.”

You suddenly felt sick. She was referring to your ex-boyfriend Daichi. You met him freshman year in college and by junior year, the two of you were engaged. However, senior year Daichi decided to call it quits, telling you that you’d divorce him in two years. How could he decide how your heart felt? That was unfair. Ever since then, you hadn’t exactly been the same. You had dated a few men, but none of them ever made you forget about Daichi. Shuichi was the first to make you completely forget.

“I know,” you replied softly.

“So,” your father began. “Are you two staying for dinner?”

You turned to look at Shuichi in question; he smiled beautifully. “I would love too.”

“Good, because I was going to force you whether you wanted to or not.”

He chuckled at your empty threat.

“Who wants to help me cook?”

[][][]

“It was nice having you two over. We should do this more often.”

“Okay Mom,” you laughed out as you clung lazily to Shuichi.

He had his arm draped over your form as the two of you stood at the doorway. “I’ll be sure she comes back; I’ll drag her along if I have to.”

You playfully smacked Shuichi’s chest as the four of you laughed lightly. “I’m sure he’ll become the favorite now. I wouldn’t be surprised if he dropped by more often.”

“Hey, speaking of which, don’t forget about this weekend, my boy,” your father announced. “You said you’d help me fix the furnace. I’m holding you to that.”

Shuichi smiled. “I’ll be here. You can count on it.”

“We better get going; it is late.”

He nodded his head before saying goodbye to your parents. The two of you calmly walked to your car before heading to his house. He decided to drive, allowing you to relax during the drive. The two of you talked about the dinner as you held his hand in yours while he used the other to steer the wheel.

It wasn’t long before he pulled into the driveway and cut the engine. Gracefully, he turned so he was gazing at you.

“I had a fantastic night, Shuichi. And I’m sorry that I got upset with you earlier.”

He gently traced your cheek as he smiled lovingly. “It’s quite alright. I should have taken your emotions into consideration. I’ll remember to do that next time.”

You smiled as you leaned over and placed a kiss to his lips. “I’d appreciate that. Now, I think you need to get inside and do some homework or something. Your parents are probably wondering where you are.”

“I told them.”

You furrowed your brows. “You told them you went to visit my parents?”

He nodded his head.

“And they had no problem with that?”

He nodded his head.

“Well I’ll be damned.”

“If I’m honest with them, the more I’ll receive in the long run. I see no point in lying about what I do and who I do it with. You’re it now and if my family cannot accept that, how could I have truly called them family?”

“That’s going a bit far, isn’t it?”

He chuckled lightly. “I don’t agree. However, it is late and I should be going,” Shuichi announced as he opened the car door.

You sighed as you opened your door as well. You walked around the front of the car and stood beside Shuichi. He was smiling down at you as he gently pulled you to his body.

“I enjoyed dinner with your parents’. They’re lovely people.”

“I don’t know how the hell you charmed them, but I’m not complaining. I’m glad you like my parents’ and I’m glad they like you. It couldn’t have worked out any better.”

“Nope,” Shuichi chuckled out before bending down and pressing a kiss to your lips. “Maybe I’ll drop by your place tomorrow after school,” he suggested as he placed another kiss to your lips.

“Mmm, I’d like that,” you said as your arms wound around his neck.

“Good. Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”

You nodded your head as you gazed up into his emerald eyes. They held such intensity and emotion; it was mind boggling the amount of feelings Shuichi felt and displayed in his eyes.

He pressed another kiss to your lips, his hold on you tightening. You leaned up into the kiss, nibbling gently on his lower lip. He chuckled into the kiss as he pulled away.

“I’m sorry, but we can’t get into a heated kiss while we’re standing on my driveway; my parents’ are most likely watching.”

You instantly pulled away, a deep blush on your face. “What?!”

“Relax,” Shuichi laughed as his fingers curled around your hand. “They aren’t watching; I’m positive. But it’s still an unwise idea to make out on my driveway.”

“Right. Well I’ll see you tomorrow,” you said as you took a step towards your car.

“Hey,” Shuichi exclaimed as he pulled you back to him. “One more kiss.”

“Gladly.”

He gave you a gentle kiss before pulling away. You were smiling like an idiot and didn’t care. He ran his hand down the side of your face.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Okay. Bye Shuichi.”

“Bye.”

You got into your car and pulled out of the driveway. The drive home wasn’t bad and when you got to your apartment, you went straight to your bedroom. Your computer was still on, your story displayed on the monitor. You stared at it for a short while before sitting down.

You opened a new document and soon, your fingers were typing an untold and unknown story. You just let your mind flow and tell what your needed fingers to write. You couldn’t rest until you got whatever you had on your mind out of your chest. You weren’t sure if you were journaling, if you were writing fiction, if you were writing anything at all. But you just knew you needed to write and get it all out.

The Student